Mowing-machine.



No. 669,259. Patented Mar. 5, |901. J. W.-LATIMER'.

MOWING MACHINE.

(Applicxtion lsd A'ug.. 10, 1900.) (No Model.) 4 Shasta-Sheet l w: Nnms Farms coA Puo-rauwe.. WASHINGTON, n. cA

No. 669,259. Patented Mar. 5, I90I. J.` W. LATIMER. MDWING MACHINE.

(Application led Aug. 10, 11900.) (un Model.) 4 sheets-ansah.

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No. a669,259. Patenten Mar. 5, mol.

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MDWING MACHINE.

(Application led Aug. -19, 1900.)

winegeg? *I Inventon? No. 669,259. Patented Mar. 5, |90I. J. W. LATIMER.

MUWING MACHINE.'

(Application led Aug; 10, 1900.;

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(No Model.)

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UNTTEDA STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WARDEN LATIMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOWlNG-.IVACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of LettelS Patent NO. 669,259, dated March 5, 1901.

Application filed August 10, 1900. Serial No. 26,483, (No model.) Y

T0 a/ZZ 1077/0710/ t may concern:

Be itknown that I, JOHN WARDEN LATIMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinMowing-Machines; andIdo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates particularly to that part of the machine where the connection is made between the cutting apparatus and the coupling frame or bars; and the general objectis to prevent the sagging back of the outer end of the linger-bar and sickle that is due to the resistance encountered by these parts in operation and the wearing of the joints and other parts in use.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that the greatest eficiencyis obtained from the cutting apparatus when it occupies a position at a right angle to the line of draft. As the machine wears,however,and the joints loosen u p, the outer end of the finger-bar sags backward, so that the sickle slants to the rear of the correct position. I-Ieretofore no thoroughly satisfactory means has been devised to prevent or correct this diculty, and it has been common to set up the machines when new with the cutting apparatus inclining slightly forward of the correct position, so that the natural sagging of the bar would bring the cutting apparatus into the proper alinement with the tongue. This expedient is objectionable for the same reason that the rearward slanting is-viz., that the cutting apparatus is for a time at least at some other than a right angle to the line of draft. Moreover, it is im.- possible to secure any permanent results in this way, and there are many other objections to resorting to it.

The present invention consists, generally stated, in combining with the usual couplingframe and inner shoe a novel yoke, to which the-shoe is pivoted in the ordinary way, and a block or casting which rigidly unites the two members of the coupling-frame (the pushbar and the `coupling-bar) together, the yoke having a pivotal bearing ou the coupling-bar independent of the block and the latter having a guide and thrust-bearing for the yoke as far as practicable in rear of the yokes pivot, so as to relieve the pivot as much as possible of the thrustofthe cuttingapparatus.

The improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan View of a mower embodying the same, the frame of the machine being outlined in broken lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan of the block and yoke connection between the coupling-frame and the cutting apparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. ft is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2 looking from the rear, and Fig. 5 is a detail of the yoke in perspective.

Referring to the views, a is the couplingbar, and b the thrust-bar, these bars` being pivotally connected at a and h with the frame ofthe machine and constituting the couplingframe. At their outer ends the coupling and thrust bars are rigidly united by a block or casting c, having a tubular boss c' atits front end, into which the outer end ofthe couplingbar a is received, and a similar boss c2, extending diagonally at the rear of the casting and to which the forward end of the thrustbar h is adjustably secured by means of a screw-thread d upon the end of the bar taking into the correspondingly-threaded end of the boss. These tubular bosses are rigidly connected together at their stubble ends by a brace or strut d and at their grassward ends by means of a plate or arm e, which is eX- tended rearwardly and provided with a liange e', standing vertically, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The outer end of the thrust-bar b projects grassward through the boss c of the coupling-block c, and upon its outer end is pivotally secured a yoke f, to which, by means of downwardly-extending lugs f' and f2, the inner shoe of the cutting apparatus is connected by means of pivots f3 and f4, so that the outer end of the cutting apparatus may rise and fall in the operation of the machine, and so that it may be folded up out of operation and locked in vertical position'. The yoke'f is provided at its front end with a tubular boss f5, and the grassward end of the couplingbar is provided with a headed nut g, which overlaps the end of the boss f5 and pivotally secures the yoke f to the bar.

Rising from the front end of the yoke f is a standard h, to the upper end ot which'a link or rod i is secured which extends rear- Warrlly and is connected with the usual tilting lever, the object ot' this` lilik being to rock the cutting apparatus fore and att on the pivotal connection ot' the yokef with the coupling-bar in the manner well understood.

The stubbleward side ot' the yoke fis provided with a plain llat fare-plate t', which tits snugly against the extension c of the coupling-block c, and at its rear end this faceplate is provided with a rentrant lip or keeper i?, which embraces the edge of the guide-flange el on the coupling-block c, these two parts forming, respectively, a way and guide, whereby the pivotal movement of th'e yoke necessary to accommodate the inner shoe and cutting apparatus to the inequalities of the ground is permit-ted and whereby the yoke itselt is held by the coupling-block against lateral movement.

For the purpose ot' locking the cutting apparatus in its vertical position when folded up ont ot the way l provide upon the rear end ot' the yokef a latch h', having its grassward end provided with a hook to catch over a lug or projection on the heel end of the iinger-bar, as shown in Fig. 4. A spring l is coiled around the pivot-pin of this latch and reacts between the yoke fand the pin, so as to hold the latch normally in position to engage and uphold the lingerbar. The latch is provided with a rearward extension h2, having a forwaidly-projecting foot or lug h3, which projects underneath the rear edge of the guide-harige e' ot' the plate e. The latch may of course be operated by hand or by the foot ot' the driver; butit is desirable also to have it operated automatically, and this is the object of providing itsheel end with the footpiece h3. When the hand-lever is thrown forward for the purpose of tilting upward the rear end of the yoke, the latch is carried bodily with the yoke, and the foot h3 strikes the under side ot' the guide-flange e. This immediately releases the latch without requiring the same to be unhooked by the hand or foot, and the lowering ot' t-he cutter-bar is thereupon controlled by the lifting-lever in the usual manner.

Itis to be noted in respect to this const-ruction that the yoke to which the cutting apparatusis pivoted is journaled upon the grassward end of the coupling-bar independently of the coupling-block instead of being pivoted to the block itself. It is also to be noted that the rear end of the coupling-block takes the thrust of the cutting apparatus on the guide-flange 6, and this flange and guide being removed as faras possible from the pivot of the yoke the leverage of the block in resisting the yoke is sufficient to effectually resist the tendency of the cutting apparatus to sag backwardly.

The thrust-bar Z? may be connected at its rear end to the frame of the machine in any -ing the front end of the thrust-bar with the coupling-block c by means of the screw above described is to provide for increasing or diminishing the length of the bar relative to the dist-ance between the coupling-block and the connection of the bar with the frame, so as to take up from time to time any sagging that may require correction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a mowing-machine, the combination ofthe coupling-bar, the push-bar, a couplingblock rigidly uniting said bars, ayoke pivoted at its front end on the projecting end of the coupling-bar and having the cutting apparatus pivotally connected thereto so as to rise and fall in operation and be folded up out of operation, an adjustable connection between the push-bar and the coupling-block, and a connection between the rear end of the yoke and the block for guiding the vertical movement of the yoke and holding it against lateral movement.

2. In a mowing-machine, the combination of a coupling-block rigidly connected to the coupling-frame, a yoke pivoted at its forward end and having the cutting apparatus pivotally connected thereto so as to rise and fall in operation and be folded up out ot' operation, a latch for locking the cutting apparatus in folded-up position, and means for automatically releasing the latch on lifting the heel end I of the yoke.

3. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling and push bars, of a coupling-block rigidly uniting them at their grassward ends, a yoke carrying the cutting appa- 4ratus and pivoted to an end of the couplingbar projecting beyond the block, an adjustable connection between the front end of the push-bar and the block, a guiding and holding flange on the rear end of the block, and a lip or keeper on the rear end of the yoke embracing the flange.

4. In a mowing-machine, the combination with the coupling and push bars, of a coupling-block rigidly uniting them at their grassward ends, a yoke carrying the cutting apparatus and pivoted to the coupling-bar at its front end, a guiding and holding iange on the block at the rear, a lip or keeper on the yoke embracing the ange, and a latch for holding the cutting apparatus folded up, said latch being pivoted on the yoke and having a tailpiece underlying the flange o n the block so that throwing up the rear end of the yoke causes the liange to release the latch.

5. In a mowing-machine, the combination of the coupling-bar, the push-bar, a couplinglIO block rigidly uniting said bars, and having the coupling-bar projecting through it, a yoke pivoted at its front end on the projecting end of the Coupling-bar and having the cutting apparatus pivotaiiy connected thereto so as to rock in operation aud be raised and iowered, and a connection between the rear end of the yoke and the block for guiding the vertical movement of the yoke and holding it against lateral movement. Io

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN WARDEN LATIMER. Witnesses:

ARTHUR JOHNSON, CARL DETZER. 

